The Clock and the Key

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Clock and the Key is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By A. H. (Arthur Henry) Vesey • Curated US English Learning Edition

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The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.

But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter IV Reading 1/33

The Clock and the Key

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Clock and the Key is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

Line 2

It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

Line 3

Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

/ɪts soʊl dɪˈstɪŋkʃən leɪ ɪn ðə fækt ðæt ɪts ˈfeɪdəd ɡriːn ˈʃʌtərz hæd bɪn bɑːrd fɔːr ˈsʌmθɪŋ mɔːr ðæn hæf ə ˈsentʃəri/

Line 4

Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.

Line 5

But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

baker noun US /ˈbeɪkər/

someone who bakes commercially

From this reading “But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.”

barred adjective US /bɑːrd/

preventing entry or exit or a course of action

From this reading “Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.”

butcher verb US /ˈbʊtʃər/

kill (animals) usually for food consumption

From this reading “But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.”

gondola noun US /ˈɡɑːndələ/

a low flat-bottomed freight car with fixed sides but no roof

From this reading “But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.”

palaces noun US /ˈpæləsəz/

plural of “palace” — a large and stately mansion

From this reading “Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.”

rusty adjective US /ˈrʌsti/

covered with or consisting of rust

From this reading “But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.”

shutters noun US /ˈʃʌtərz/

plural of “shutter” — a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure

From this reading “Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.”

sights noun US /saɪts/

an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument

From this reading “The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

ten years noun + noun

In this reading “Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.”

fifty years noun + noun

In this reading “But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.”

green shutters noun + noun counted as “green shutter”

In this reading “Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.”

many years adjective + noun

In this reading “The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.”

for ten preposition + noun

In this reading “Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.”

lay in verb + particle

keep or lay aside for future use

In this reading “Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.”

for fifty preposition + noun

In this reading “But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.”

for a year preposition + article + noun counted as “for … year”

In this reading “Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.”

All words in this reading · 62

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

bakernounUS /ˈbeɪkər/

someone who bakes commercially

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/

preventing entry or exit or a course of action

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

bell-rope

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

butcherverbUS /ˈbʊtʃər/

kill (animals) usually for food consumption

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

CanalnounUS /kəˈnæl/

(astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

centurynounUS /ˈsentʃəri/

a period of 100 years

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.

danounUS /dɑː/

an official prosecutor for a judicial district

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

distinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/

a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

gondolanounUS /ˈɡɑːndələ/

a low flat-bottomed freight car with fixed sides but no roof

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

GrandadjectiveUS /ɡrænd/

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

halfadjectiveUS /hæf/

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

moss-grownadjective

overgrown with moss

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

OtheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.

others

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

palacesnounUS /ˈpæləsəz/

plural of “palace” — a large and stately mansion

From this reading Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.

Palazzo

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

pulledverbUS /pʊld/

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

rearnounUS /rɪr/

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/

covered with or consisting of rust

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

scorenounUS /skɔːr/

a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

Sestos

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

shuttersnounUS /ˈʃʌtərz/

plural of “shutter” — a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

sightsnounUS /saɪts/

an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

solenounUS /soʊl/

the underside of footwear or a golf club

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading But for fifty years no butcher or baker boy had pulled the rusty bell-rope at the little rear street–no gondola had paused at its moss-grown steps.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It is not more beautiful than a score of others.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Its sole distinction lay in the fact that its faded green shutters had been barred for something more than half a century.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Other palaces are closed for a year–for ten years.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading The Palazzo da Sestos was for many years one of the sights of the Grand Canal.

Chapter 4 of The Clock and the Key by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Vesey holds 165 sentences, grouped into 33 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 4 of The Clock and the Key contain?

Chapter 4 holds 165 sentences of The Clock and the Key, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Clock and the Key by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Vesey exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 165 sentences, grouped into 33 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 4 of The Clock and the Key?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Clock and the Key

Common questions about reading The Clock and the Key by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Vesey on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Clock and the Key?

Yes. All 4970 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54888 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Clock and the Key is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #54888, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Clock and the Key take to read?

About 414 minutes of reading across 994 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Clock and the Key

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Clock and the Key, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Version: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Clock and the Key; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Chapter IV

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